The softcover first edition first impression of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book will go to auction at Richard Winterton Auctioneers this April.
The book is estimated to be worth between £3,000 to £4,000, and it will be available to purchase at auction from 9am on Monday, April 13 at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.
Naveed Younas, 37, from Nottingham, said he received the paperback as a present when he was small. “I liked it very much, read it quite a lot and went on to read the other Harry Potter books in due course,” he said.
“It has been left on my shelf for a few years now and I thought this would be a good time to pass on to someone else who will appreciate it.”
There were 5,150 copies of the first edition first impression softcover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone printed by Bloomsbury in June 1997. Five hundred hardback copies containing the same text were also issued.
“This well-thumbed example has clearly been much-loved and read repeatedly – exactly what it was printed to do,” Robert French, valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers had said.
He continued: “There are some interesting anomalies which identify a first edition first printing of the book, either soft or hard cover. For example, on page 53 is a list of school supplies Harry receives from Hogwarts where ‘1 wand’ appears twice, at the start and again at the end. On the back cover there is a letter ‘o’ missing from the word philosopher’s and it also refers to ‘Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft’, which was later swapped around to ‘Witchcraft and Wizardry. Conversely, the most obvious tell-tale sign that you do not have a first impression is if the bottom of the front cover states that the book is ‘a Triple Smarties Gold Award Winner’!”
On the day of the auction, people can bid online, in the room or by prior arranged telephone bid. The catalogue goes live online a week before the sale date.
1. Vendor Naveed Younas, from Nottingham, said he received the book as a gift when he was small
Vendor Naveed Younas, from Nottingham, said he received the book as a gift when he was small | Richard Winterton Auctioneers
2. In the list of school supplies on p53, ‘1 wand’ appears twice at the start and at the end.
In the list of school supplies on p53, ‘1 wand’ appears twice at the start and at the end. | Richard Winterton Auctioneers
1. Vendor Naveed Younas, from Nottingham, said he received the book as a gift when he was small
Vendor Naveed Younas, from Nottingham, said he received the book as a gift when he was small | Richard Winterton Auctioneers
2. In the list of school supplies on p53, ‘1 wand’ appears twice at the start and at the end.
In the list of school supplies on p53, ‘1 wand’ appears twice at the start and at the end. | Richard Winterton Auctioneers